, 1887-04-27
The Public Land Laws,


FAIRBANK. Wyo., March %, 1885,
Edgar s. wilson, Esq, Register q.
s. Land Office, Cheyenne, Ryo.. DEAR
SIR:-As a number of settlers and would
be settlers in this vicinity have asked me
for information regarding the recent de.
cisions OF the land office. and also regard.
ing the lately promulgated rules concern.
ing land entries and final proofs, | take
the liberty of addressing you upon these
matters, that l may be able to satisfactor-
lily answer such questions.
There is at present such unconcealed dis.
satisfaction among the settlers of this
section who seem to consider tho present
land policy of the government as an
abridgment Of their rights under the law.
Some of them think it useless to make
filings, while Others already settled fear
that after their labor and trouble in build
ing up homes they are liable to lose al
through failure to comply with srs"ateen-
nicslity in recent land ofir1 inst, ]uclion. nf
which they are igno-atl.
Many seem to lear that shen they
have completed proof they may never re-
ceive titles; that the final receipt is moth
ing but an acknoT ledgment of the pay
ment of their money; that it cannot be
used to obtain a loan-when they are need
ing funds to buy farming implements and
continue their improvements.
In view of the existence OF this feeling
l should respectfully ask you to answer
the following questions
LIST. Is the presumption settler required
to live continuously upon his claim for
thirty three months?
End. Ifabsence is allowed is he required
to keep q record of his absences, the dates
and reasons thereof?
Bird. Can a homestead settler having no
other home than his claim go away from
it at stated seasons to obtain a livelihood
or to raise money to improve his home
stead, and if such settler is married must
he leave his wife alone upon his claim
during his absence?
4th. In establishing Il good final proof
Is it necessary to answer all the forty-four
questions favorably?
9Th. When a final receipt is given is it
of any value as evidence of a good title2
9th. In general. Do the recent require
ments of the land Office put any obstacles
in the way of actual settlers who do all
they can to comply with the law in good
faith, but who are ignorant of the various
special instructions and orders which have
been issued2
1t is evident that anyone conversant
with the conditions of life on the frontier
that no poor man can go on to his claim
and earn u support from it the first year.
He must first build a cabin and sheds
and reclaim or clear land. He must build
his fences before he can produce a crop or
save it. He must have a team of horses
and necessary farming implements to do
farming work. He finds it necessary
therefore to leave his claim at certain
times to get money to purchase the neces.
saries of life. While on the other hand
a man who is hired to make an illegal en-
try by some syndicate of land monopolists
can stay on his claim every day in the
year and make money by the operation.
The other queries will perhaps explain
themselves.
As there will be It large immigration in
to our section this season your answer to
these questions if favorable t. the settler
will tend to allay much apprehension in
regard to entries now made and to be
made. and will no doubt increase the
number of actual settlers in this section
of the country.
Hoping to receive an early reply, | re-
main, very respectfully yours.
+. A. NJ. STUART,
Justice of the Peace.